34. Evie

Chapter 34

Evie

Win or lose, it had been the right call to attend the game tonight.

Etched in my memory for all time would be the image of Jenner and Hope when they shared their first warm-up interaction through the glass. It had been such a special moment, and I knew it had bolstered his spirits prior to the game.

Now, I couldn't be more proud of the man who'd always accepted me as I was—flaws and all—the father of my children, skating across the scratched-up ice surface, that gleaming silver chalice he'd always dreamed of winning hoisted high above his head as he let out a cheer.

The joy on his face, shown close up on the giant screen over center ice, was infectious.

Laughter bubbled up from my chest as I bounced Hope. "Look, there's Daddy."

I didn't know about him, but I'd been about ready to throw up when they reviewed his goal. Technically, Asher had shot it, but as the last player to touch the puck, it was credited to Jenner.

I was so mesmerized by the images of Jenner that it took a minute to process the rumble of voices inside the family suite. Peeking around, I noticed some of the women pointing down toward ice level, a few with hands pressed against their chests.

Turning my head to see what they were looking at, I saw it.

Jenner had accepted the trophy as the Speed's captain and was the first to take it for a spin. There were no hard and fast rules about the order past that. From what I understood, it was a personal choice, someone the current handler felt deserved the next turn.

But in all my years with Jenner, it always went from the captain to another player and so forth until each member of the team got their turn. What I'd never seen, and why everyone was staring, was that Jenner skated right up to Maddox, dressed in his head coach attire of a gameday suit. They exchanged a few words, and Jenner offered the trophy to his best friend.

The emotion etched on Maddox's face when it came into view was enough to tug on anyone's heartstrings. I'd heard about his injury in detail from both Dakota and Bristol over this past season—how it had come during their last run at the Finals. And I'd also learned that it still weighed on him. He felt personally responsible for their loss, that had he been able to take the ice, they would have won. So, to see him now, unable to hold back the tears at the gesture from his best friend, it was truly something special.

Unfinished business had been laid to rest.

A hand touched my arm, and I turned to find Dakota, her blue eyes glassy. "We're going to head down. Can I help with Hope?"

I nodded. "Sure, that would be great."

Dakota eased Hope from my arms, and we joined the rest of the friends and family headed down to ice level.

Long periods of standing or walking weren't my favorite these days, and the minute Jerry saw me at the gate tonight, he'd arranged with someone inside to help me around the lower levels in a golf cart. I'd used it earlier when I brought Hope down for warmups, and the same staff member had it waiting for me the minute the elevator doors opened beneath the arena. The blow to my pride hurt less than the waves of pain radiating around my hips to my lower back, so I'd accepted the offer of a mobile escort.

For years—when it was all I could think about—I'd waxed poetic about the beauty of pregnancy. I had built it up in my mind as this serene time when you counted kicks and constantly marveled at the life you had created.

As much as I already loved these babies, I was decidedly not having a blissful experience. Pregnancy was not at all glamorous when your skin had stretched to the point of splitting, you had to pee every five minutes and couldn't sleep, and most of the time, it felt like your kids were in the middle of a pay-per-view wrestling match inside the tight confines of your uterus.

I was over it. Plain and simple.

July 5 th couldn't come soon enough. Only twenty-two more days to go, not that I was counting or anything.

With Dakota holding Hope, Pam, Jenner's mom, joined us on the cart that moved through the concrete tunnels until they narrowed between the locker room and bench access. I thanked the man for helping us out, and he said he'd hang around in case I needed a ride back after the celebrations wound down.

When we cleared the overhang that opened into the benches, my eyes went wide. The arena was still packed, every person in attendance on their feet and screaming just as they had when the buzzer sounded.

"Holy crap," Dakota breathed beside me.

Several of the WAGs had already made their way out to celebrate with their men, several with legs thrown around their significant others' waists. A few kids were riding on their dads' shoulders. It was a total party atmosphere; the undercurrent of elation could be felt from where we stood.

Knowing Jenner would have my head if I stepped onto that ice, I took a seat on the hard bench, grabbing Hope from Dakota before she took a tentative first step onto the slick surface herself in street shoes.

Braxton skated over immediately, spinning her around in his arms, and I couldn't help but smile at her squeal. When he finally set her down, the kiss they shared was so passionate my face flamed, and I covered Hope's eyes. I was willing to bet Dakota would have enough book inspiration to last her a while after tonight.

When they finally broke apart, Dakota clung to him, burying her face in his chest, but Braxton turned to me, placing two fingers into his mouth. I winced at the sharp sound of his whistle, but if he was going for attention, he'd gotten it. Several of his teammates turned to see what he needed.

Tilting his head in our direction, Braxton yelled, "Go fetch the captain! His girls are waiting."

Ducking my head in gratitude, it was only a few seconds later that I heard the cry of, "Evie!"

My eyes searched the crowd, trying to find Jenner, but there were too many people. But suddenly, hands shoved two players out of the way, and there he was. In all his sweaty, happy glory.

It was a good thing I was already sitting down because the expression of love etched on his face would have been enough to knock me over.

Skating to where we sat, he extended one arm to take Hope before offering the other to help me up. Leaning over opposite sides of the boards, he palmed the back of my head before stealing a kiss. His tongue swept inside my mouth, and damn if I didn't want to jump his bones. Sweat seasoned the taste of his lips, and even the smell of nasty hockey gear wasn't enough to tamp down my arousal. My husband was hot, and he was riding high as the hero of the hour. Pressing my thighs together wasn't nearly enough to quell the ache from the mental imagery of what he would do to me on a night like tonight if I weren't huge and knocked up and not allowed to act on the adrenaline rush of the win.

Kids. They wreaked havoc on your sex life.

Pulling back when we were both panting, he gave my neck a little squeeze before turning to our daughter. "Hey, beautiful! Are you having fun?"

That girl had moon eyes for her dad, even this late at night with all the bright lights and noise. I had to hand it to Pam; ordering those noise-canceling headphones had been a genius idea.

The gummy smile Hope gave Jenner melted my heart, and almost as if they realized they were missing out on the excitement, the boys started rolling around, making their presence known.

I placed a hand against my bump. Tonight was truly a family affair.

Jenner tracked the move and smirked. "They having a dance party?"

"Something like that." I twisted my lips when a particularly sharp joint jabbed me from the inside.

Bending down, he spoke to my belly. "Boys, you're never gonna believe this, but your old dad did a thing tonight. Someday, you'll see pictures and know you were almost there, but I promise to work hard to do it again for you." He straightened, bouncing Hope. "We'll get some pics of her tonight propped up inside the trophy, and I'll pull rank to make sure we get our day with it after the boys are born. Maybe late August. Can you imagine how cute it would be to smush them both in there together?"

Running my hand over his jaw and the overgrown playoff beard resting there, the excitement in his tone had me smiling. "The cutest."

"Hey, Casey!" Jenner called over to a passing staff member. They stopped immediately to see what he needed. "Can we get a carpet over here so my wife can step out from behind the bench?"

Casey nodded. "You got it, Jenner. Coming right up."

I gave an impressed laugh. "Wow, you're really running the show down here these days."

"Nah. That's Maddox. But scoring the game-winner has everyone treating me extra nice tonight."

Laughter floated from my lips. "Gotta cash in on those perks."

"You know it." He winked.

Casey returned with another member of the Speed staff, and they rolled out a red carpet along the boards. With one hand holding mine, Jenner helped me step down from the bench to the covered ice. Pulling me into his side, he signaled for Asher to have whomever had the trophy bring it over.

"Looking for this?" Wyatt Banks skated over, the sparkling silver trophy held in both hands horizontally across his waist.

"Yeah, set it down right here on the carpet for me, will you?" Jenner instructed, to which Wyatt immediately obeyed.

Resting at our feet, it came up to about my hip. Chewing my lower lip, I asked, "Is it okay to touch it? I know you guys are all superstitious about this stuff."

Jenner beamed at me. "Baby, what's mine is yours. Have at it."

With tentative fingers, I reached out to touch the cool metal. I would have expected it to be warmer with how many hands had been on it in the past half hour or so, but I guess the chill of the ice couldn't be completely outweighed.

Staring at the trophy my husband had worked his entire career to win, I whispered, "Jenner, they're gonna stamp your name on this."

"Still can't believe it," he breathed out beside me.

"You earned it, babe." I peeked up to find his chocolate eyes filling with tears.

Pressing a kiss to my temple, he said, "I'm so fucking glad you're here. Wouldn't have been the same without you."

There was an unspoken meaning to his words, and only I knew what he was really saying. Even though he'd be torn to shreds by the press and his teammates if he ever uttered it aloud, he was telling me that he was glad they hadn't won it during the years of my absence because it wouldn't have meant as much without someone to share this joy with.

It was almost as if the stars had aligned, and suddenly, both of us achieved our dreams at the same time.